Eminent social activist Surya Mishra has been re-elected as the President of Pravasi Odia Vikas Samiti (POVS), the largest organisation representing the Odia diaspora

The election of the Executive Council and office-bearers of POVS was successfully conducted at the IIT Conference Hall, New Delhi, on December 28, 2025, through a meticulously organised and comprehensive process.

Engr. Sushanta Kumar Mohapatra was elected as the new General Secretary, while Biswajit Barik was elected as the Treasurer of POVS.

Assuming his new term, Mishra emphasised that the organisation would contribute to the collective effort of making Odisha a developed state, alongside the government and other stakeholders.

The elections were conducted under the guidance and supervision of an election committee comprising Dr. Biswajit Behera, Associate Professor, NCERT, along with senior POVS members Chinmoy Mohanty and Dr. Pradyumna Pradhan.

The newly elected office-bearers expressed their firm commitment to further strengthening the organisation, uniting Odias living outside the state, and reinforcing Odisha’s cultural identity and dignity at the national level.

Key discussions during the meeting focused on promoting start-ups and entrepreneurship in Odisha, strengthening Odisha’s tourism sector, and encouraging collective participation of Odias under the theme ‘Janmabhoomi – Karmabhoomi’.

Retired IPS officer Dr. Sanjeeb Patjoshi, Dr. Dhiraj Singh, Prabodh Swain, Dr. Shailendra Swain, Rajesh Sharma, Ajit Mohanty, Malay Pradhan, Ms. Rita Patra, and Dr. Prakash Sahu were among those present on the occasion.

A detailed deliberations were also held on POVS’s Vision Odisha 2026.